Agency Information Collection Activity: Request for Certificate of Veteran Status

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0745.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 810 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 266-4688 or email maribel.aponte@va.gov. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0745” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority:Public Law 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521.

Title: Request for Certificate of Veteran Status, VA form 26-8261a.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0745.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: VA Form 26-8261a is used by VA to determine an applicant's eligibility for a possible reduced down payment when obtaining a loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), under the provisions of Section 203(b)(2) or 220(d)(a) of the National Housing Act as amended. FHA actually provides the benefit. However, VA is charged with determining if the veteran-applicant meets the basic eligibility requirements regarding length and character of service. If eligibility is established, VA issues the applicant a Certificate of Veterans Status that is then used when the borrower obtains an FHA insured loan. This certificate gives the borrower the possibility of a reduced down payment on an FHA backed loan.

The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published at 87 FR 65648 on October 31, 2022, page 65648.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 4 hours

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 10 minutes.

Frequency of Response: One time.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.